The distance between the Hokage building and the Ninja Academy wasn't far, and Kakashi arrived outside the exam room in just two minutes.
As he opened the door, the light before his eyes disappeared instantly. He couldn't see anything clearly.
"What a strange technique... worthy of being the masterpiece of the Second Hokage."
(Actually, this was originally Senju Hashirama's technique in the manga, but the anime changed it to Senju Tobirama. Personally, I also think Tobirama fits better.)
Kakashi thought to himself, but didn't forget his task and called out in a deep voice:
"Shimura Yami, the Hokage has ordered you to cancel the Technique. You've passed the first exam!"
Kakashi's voice fell, but after a few seconds, the room was still engulfed in darkness.
The jutsu wasn't canceled, but the Genin inside erupted.
"Who's Shimura? He's the one who caused all this?"
"He disrupted the exam and didn't get disqualified, but instead got promoted? This is a setup! Definitely a setup!"
"Konoha's playing dirty."
Facing the complaints, Yami only slightly closed his eyes, showing no concern at all.
Kakashi had no choice but to repeat the Third Hokage's decision again.
"The first round of the exam was a test of your information-gathering abilities.
There were three Chūnin proctors placed in the room to provide correct answers.
However, since none of you were able to crack Shimura's jutsu, the Third Hokage has decided to make an exception and allow all of you to advance."
"If you still can't appreciate that, then leave Konoha and take the exam in your own village. Maybe they'll baby you there."
The Genin were relieved now.
Not having to write through that exam paper full of cryptic questions, and still advancing, what a great deal.
In an instant, most of their resentment toward Yami disappeared.
At that moment, the darkness faded like a receding tide, and light filled the classroom once again. After being immersed in complete darkness, many blinked repeatedly, unaccustomed to the sudden brightness.
Yamashiro Aoba whispered, "Kakashi, are you sure the Third Hokage wants everyone to pass?"
"Yeah."
Kakashi nodded with a hint of weariness. "I had a big argument with Elder Danzō over this. Your work here is done."
As he spoke, he glanced at Uchiha Itachi... then at Yami.
"That's great... ahem, I mean, it's finally resolved."
Yamashiro Aoba held back his laughter with great effort and clapped the table to grab everyone's attention.
"Since you've all passed the exam, stop loitering around."
"Next, head to Konoha's 44th Training Ground. The second round begins in one hour!"
The Genin in the classroom left in high spirits, one after another.
Yami slowly wrote his name on the untouched test paper, then got up and left his seat.
As he passed the podium, he stopped in front of Kakashi and looked at him curiously.
"You're Hatake Kakashi?"
"That's me." Kakashi was also observing Yami.
As someone who'd been around the Third Hokage for a long time, he knew exactly how much Hiruzen valued Yami.
He also knew that Yami had just killed two Iwa Jōnin.
At this age, he wouldn't be Yami's match.
When Kakashi became a Jōnin at twelve, he was blinded in his left eye by an Iwa Jōnin named Oishi during his first battle. He only survived thanks to a teammate who had awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan.
Yami seemed to notice something and shifted his gaze to Kakashi's forehead protector-covered eye.
"That Sharingan... your teammate's?"
Kakashi was stunned for a moment but nodded silently.
"Take it off," Yami suddenly said. Kakashi's eye widened in surprise.
"You're not of Uchiha blood. That eye is just a burden to you. You haven't felt your chakra flow freely in a long time, have you?"
"If you keep going like this, you'll become hollow."
"..."
Kakashi found it surreal that an eight-year-old was talking to him about becoming hollow in the future, but he still shook his head and replied:
"That eye is the last keepsake of my... best friend. I see the world through it, so you don't need to worry."
"Alright then."
Yami sighed like a little adult. "Don't blame me if I kill you in the future."
"You want to kill me? Why?"
Kakashi wasn't angry, just curious.
"Because you stopped my old man from assassinating the Hokage."
Yami spoke like it was perfectly natural. "If you hadn't interfered, my old man would've succeeded already, and I'd be the Hokage's grandson right now. Shouldn't that spot be mine?"
[Host and Kakashi form a heart-breaking bond. Reward: Lightning Attribute Chakra (Ultimate)]
Kakashi felt this kid was just spoiled.
Assassinating the Hokage was a capital crime. The fact that the Third Hokage didn't pursue it was mercy enough.
And yet Yami resented him for not cooperating?
Kakashi instantly lost interest in the conversation and disappeared from the classroom in a flash.
Years later, every time Kakashi remembered this first meeting with Yami, he would want to slap his past self.
If only he'd known the kid was such a little devil, maybe he should've coaxed him a bit.
Otherwise, why suffer so much?
Training Ground 44, also known as the Forest of Death.
It was the largest of Konoha's 50 training grounds, spanning 50 kilometers in radius. Just as its nickname implied, it was filled with deadly dangers.
Ferocious beasts, treacherous terrain, poisonous insects, and toxic miasma.
These made it the perfect site for outdoor survival assessments.
Most of the second rounds in Chūnin Exams were conducted here.
Because the first round had ended so quickly, the candidates arrived before ten o'clock. The gate was still closed, and the proctors hadn't shown up yet.
While waiting, many eyes turned toward Yami.
The more observant candidates had used their time on the way here to gather information about Yami. At the very least, they learned who he was—the youngest candidate in this year's exam, and the only one taking it solo.
"That kid's jutsu is what got us through."
"Honestly, I should thank him."
"With a jutsu like that, we can't underestimate him. We'd better deal with him inside. Otherwise, we'll end up with another Hatake Kakashi."
Someone among the Genin muttered sinisterly, and soon, many turned toward Yami with murderous intent.
At this stage, the tension between villages was still high.
One of the main reasons for agreeing to a joint Chūnin Exam was to showcase strength. The second was... to eliminate geniuses from other villages.
Yami ignored their looks, found a large tree, sat beneath it, and tapped the ground with two fingers.
"He really is a kid," a Rain shinobi sneered under his breath. "Still playing in the dirt."
Yami glanced up, poked the ground again, and silently memorized the man's chakra signature.
"Haha, don't underestimate him," his teammate warned, nodding toward a team nearby. "Those Konoha brats are never simple. There's an Uchiha over there too. We need to watch them."
"I know."
Thanks to the Uchiha name, Itachi drew more attention, and Yami was comparatively ignored.
At that moment, the proctor for the second round arrived on scene.
It was the same person who had contributed a Space Talent Fragment to Yami.
Behind him were several Konoha shinobi in green vests. Without saying a word, they began distributing forms to each participant.
Yami looked up at the woman with the twin bun hairstyle grinning at him and frowned.
"No Kurenai or Yugao to help you today, little guy. You scared?"
She slapped Yami's shoulder carelessly, laughing before he could respond.
"They're the ones who should be scared," Yami replied flatly, snatching the form from Mitarashi Anko and signing it without even looking.
Then he looked at Anko again, frown deepening.
He suspected the meatball shop owner hadn't completed the mission he assigned.
After half a year, why hadn't Anko gotten fat at all? Something wasn't right.
She had gained weight... in the right places.
She used to be behind Kurenai, but now she had surpassed both Kurenai and Yugao in "health."
Damn... did she benefit from misfortune?
Anko noticed his frown and thought he was just trying to act tough.
She smirked. "Scared? Just call me Onee-san, and if you scream loud enough, I might rush over to save you while on patrol."
"Very responsible of you."
Yami deadpanned. "Looks like you're well suited to be a proctor. Even a thousand years from now, you'll still be one."
"Thanks."
Anko replied instinctively, completely missing the sarcasm that she'd never be promoted.
As expected of the female Naruto—completely clueless.
"Keep working hard. When I become a Chūnin, you better treat me to some meatballs."
Still holding a stack of forms, Anko waved goodbye to Yami with a grin before moving on to the next group.
"This is a 'Life and Death Agreement'..."
After everyone received one, the proctor Raidō Namiashi finally spoke. "Once signed, if you kill an opponent during the exam, you won't be held responsible. But if you get killed... you won't be able to press charges either."
"So... think carefully before signing. You have ten minutes."
With that, Raidō Namiashi began counting.
He sincerely hoped some of the Genin would chicken out and back off, which would save him a lot of trouble.
He had never overseen a second-round exam with this many participants. In the past, there may have been more total candidates, but at least half would've been eliminated in round one.
This time? A bunch of them had made it through early.
"What a pain..."
Ten minutes passed, and Raidō Namiashi sighed. No one returned their forms.
Which meant... everyone planned to participate.
"In that case, I wish you all the best."
"Now, I'll explain the rules. They're simple."
"Each team will receive two different scrolls before entering—the Scroll of Heaven and the Scroll of Earth."
"Within 72 hours, each team must enter from a gate, obtain both scrolls, then reach the tower in the Forest of Death and hand over the scrolls to the proctor to pass."
"But, all three team members must arrive together. If you fail to reach the tower in time or lose any members, your team will be disqualified."
"Also, no one is allowed to open the scrolls before reaching the tower. If you do, you'll be disqualified and held accountable."
After that, the tone of his voice suddenly dropped, and the scar on his face made many people tense.
"Alright, that's all for the rules. At least half of you will be eliminated. I'll be waiting at the tower for the final survivors."
After speaking, all the proctors, including Anko, walked over to the iron gates and opened them.
"Now! The second round officially begins!"
A group of Genin teams rushed into the entrance, maintaining formation while also observing the movements of other teams.
This was a trial that tested all-around ability.
Tracking, counter-tracking, traps, combat, and even diplomacy were involved. It all depended on which team had better coordination and adaptability.
Of course...
Yami, the lone participant, became the target of many.
Yes, his earlier jutsu had startled many Genin. But that was only one trick.
He was alone.
No matter how strong he was, how strong could he be?
He looked no more than ten years old.
Three against one. The advantage was clear.
Seeing the hostility directed his way, some Konoha ninjas proposed forming an alliance with Yami, but he only smiled and shook his head, walking toward the forest alone.
To them, this was typical genius arrogance.
After a beating, he'd learn to be humble.
"Hey! Shimura Yami!"
Soon, all the teams had entered the Forest of Death, leaving only Yami outside.
Anko shouted at him, "What are you waiting for?! Get in there already!!"
"Are you scared or something?"
Anko was puzzled. She didn't know Yami's true strength, but based on what she'd heard from Kurenai, he was stronger than her. He shouldn't be afraid of these Genin.
"Do the rules say we have to enter immediately after the exam starts?" Yami asked.
Raidō Namiashi was stunned, thought for a moment, and shook his head. "Not exactly, but the sooner you go in, the easier it is to gain the upper hand—set traps, ambush enemies..."
"I don't need the upper hand."
Yami shook his head, then walked in the opposite direction under everyone's stunned gazes.
"I haven't eaten lunch yet. Gotta stay in there for three days. I need to buy some food and stock up in my storage scroll."
With that, he disappeared after a few quick jumps.
"Pfft!"
Anko couldn't help but laugh. "What an interesting kid."
Meanwhile, inside the Forest of Death, several teams lying in ambush near the entrance were dumbfounded.
They were planning to jump Yami as soon as he entered and grab a scroll, but... he went to eat?
Some other teams also wanted to go back and restock supplies, but the Chūnin gatekeeper immediately stopped them with a stern warning:
"What do you think you're doing?! Once you've entered the exam grounds, no one can leave unless you pass or are eliminated!"
"Are you forfeiting?!"
The frustrated Genin had no choice but to grit their teeth and dive deeper into the forest. Before long, they ran into other teams and fierce battles erupted.
(To be continued.)
***
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